Perforating



F. B. KEALL PERFORATING Oct. 18, 1927.

Filed Deo. C51, 1924 'Patented oci. 1s, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANK BYCROFT KEALL, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T UNITED `'IHOZE MA' CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, -A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

PATENT OFFICE.

PERFORATING.

Application led December 31, 1924, Serial No. 759,020, and in Greatritain January 29, 1924.

3 such, for example, as toe tips or Vamps.

In perforating the tips of shoe uppers,

and particularly tips which are pointed or peaked. it is essential to satisfactory ornamentation that the recurrent units compris- 1o ing the ornamental design be arranged symmetrically with respect to the point or peak of the tip and usually it is desired that the perforations or groups of perforations be equally spaced. Equal spacing and symmetry of the angularly related rows of perforations at either side of the peak of the tip may be obtained by the use. of punching machines employing dies by which all the desired pcrforations are made at one operation of the machine and in precisely the'v correct relation to each other and to .the peak of the tip. The use of such machines, however. involves a good deal `of expense in die equipment, particularly in view of the great variety of styles and sizes commonly manufactured and in view of rapi'dlychanging styles. Quite commonly. therefore, it is preferred to make the perforations by the use of step-by-step perforating machines, thus avoiding the heavy die equipment eX- pense referred to.

The use of lstep-by-step perforating machines has, however, been open to the serious disadvantage that heretofore there has been no practicable way of obtaining the desired symmetrical arrangement of the perforations. It is not practicable to start perforating at the end of a tip on one side and to perforate continuously round the tip to the end at the other side, because then there is no assurance that there will be a symmetrical arrangement of the perforations nearest to the point or peak of the tip on either side of it. Moreover, this difficulty is aggravated by the fact that it is usually 4`desired to have one perforation or group of perforations exactly at the peak of the tip, and there is no practicable way of insuring this result if step-by-step perforating be done as just suggested. On the other hand, as step-by-step perforating machines have heretofore been constructed. the edge gage was constructed and arranged for engagement with the work at one side of the line of feed only, and similarly the presser side of the line of feed only.l

Consequently, it has been the common practice for the operator to start perforating at the peak of the tip, and, having finished a row of perfor-ations along one side of the tip. to reverse the work and begin again on the other side of the tip at its end and perforate toward the peak, allowing thel .foot was adapted to engage the work at one the pcrforating was slowed down considerably by the practical necessity of proceeding as above outlined in finishing the second row.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide for producing angularly related intersecting rows of perforations so as to insure even spacing and symmetrical arrangement of the perforations with relation to a reference point such as the peak of a shoe tip, while retaining the advantages characteristic of step-by-step perforating. f

Tov this end, in one aspect, the invention provides a novel step-by-step perforating machine organization having work-positioning means and work-holding means each constructed and arranged to engage the work alternatively on either side of the line of feed. In this aspect, features of the invention consist in the provision in a step-by-step perforating machine of reversible work-positioning and holding means, illustrated as comprising a reversibleA presser-foot and a double-edged gage readily shiftable to permit perfor-ating on either side of the. line of feed.

the reversible presser-foot, as by tilting it to bring one or the other of its work-enga ing surfaces into engagement with the wor and 1n means for conveniently shlftlng the Y predetermined relation to the reference point and forming a second row of perforations` moving the work to perforate progressively along the other side of the angle. In the case of a pointed tip, the work is guided preferably first with reference to the edge adjacent to the first row of perforations and then is returned to thestarting corner and is guided with reference to the edge of the work adjacent to the last-mentioned row of perforations and on the opposite side of the line of feed from the position of the reference edge first emp1oyed.

Thus, the present. invention insures a symmetrical arrangement of perforations in pieces of work having characteristics such as the characteristics of peaked shoe tips above referred to. since the initial ,perforations or groups of perforations on each sidev of a reference point, Vsuch as the peak of a pointed shoe tip, have the same predetermined relation to that reference point, and at the same time the perforations may be evenly spaced.

Still other features of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a perforating machine embodying my novel work-positioning and holding means;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the work-supporting table showing my novel presser foot and edge gage;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of this mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the worksupporting table illustrating my novel workpositioning means together with the mechanism for adjusting the edge gage;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the edge gage viewed from its under side;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section through the edge gage; y

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the under side of the adjusting lever for moving the edge gage from one position to another;

Fig. S is a side elevation of the presser.

foot mechanism;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate successive steps in the method of operation.

In perforating work having angularly related rows of perforations meeting at a common point or a. corner. such as that found a pointed tip or in a vamp correspondingly formed, as has been explained, it is essential to satisfactory ornamentation that one of the perforations shall be located exactly at or substantiaily at a predetermined distance from the center of the peak ot the tip or vamp. A pointed tip ot this type has been illustrated in the drawings in Figs. 9 and 10, and in perforating work of this' character, it has heretofore been the practice for lthe operator to commence perforating at the peak of the tip, as indicated by the letter A, or at a predetermined distance therefrom and to perforate it along one side` as along y the portion A-B of the edge of the tip. As illustrated the reference point A is at. the peak of the tip as it is usuallyT desired to have a perforation at vthis point. Step-bystep perforating machines, such as have been employed for this operation, commcnly feed the work away from the operator and are provided with an edge gage which contacts with the right-hand edge of the work as it is moved along. Therefore, when the operator has completed the iirst row of perforations, it has been the custom to' perforate the other side of the tip from a point indicated by the letter C toward the peak of the tip. In making the second row of perforations, it has been the custom to perforate along Vthe portion indicated by C A -until the work has been per torated to within a short distance of the point A. and then to divide the remainingv distance by guess, and make the remaining perforations by single operations of the machines.

The illustrated machine, by t-he use of which my novel method may adif'antagcously be performed and which embodies various features of the invention. a step-by-step erforating machine of the type illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 941,704. granted Nov. 30, 1909, on the application of L. W. G. Flynt, to which patent reference may be had for a full 'disclosure of parts not fully disclosed herein. This machine comprises a frame 12 carrying a work-supporting table 14, said frame having an overhanging arm 16 in which there is journaled a main shaft 18 for the operation of a punch bar .20 which is both reciprocated vertically and swung laterally, to the rear when the machine is viewed as in Fig. 1, to feed the work. An adjusting screw 22 in connection with other vmechanism permits the adjustment of the length of feeding step while a lever 24 held in adjusted position by means of a thumb nut 26 allows an adjustment of the depth of the punch stroke. In order to hold the work during the intervais between the feeding movements, a presser foot mechanism is employed comprising a prwer foot bar 32 :,waue 0 which is urged downwardly by means of a spring 34 and lifted intermittently in timed relation to the feeding movements by means of a lever 36. The punch unit 37 as herein illustrated., is made up of three tubes, a larger tube 38 (Fig. 3,) and'two smaller tubes 39. It will be understood, however, that any other form of punch may be substituted to Asuit the wishes of the user.

The presser footmechanism is supported from the lower end of the presser foot bar by means of a rearwardly and laterally extending bracket 40 by means of which there is supported for sliding and pivotal adjustmenta reversible presser foot 42 having work-contacting toes 44 (Fig. 8) at the ends of a horseshoe-shaped portion 50 (Fig. 2) which terminates in arms 52 and 54 (Fig. 3) and is joined to an upright portion having a pointed end 56 (Fig. 4). The upright portion of the presser foot is provided with a rearwardly extending stud 58 (Figs. 4 and 8) passingr through a bushing located in a slot 6() inthe lower end of the bracket 40. A spring 62 (Fig. 8) 4joined to the stud and to a fixed point on the bracket 40 urges the stud 58 upwardly in the slot 60 and pulls the pointed end 56 into engagement with one or the other of two notches 64 formed in a plate 66 (Figs. 2 and 8) attached to the bracket 40. A retaining plate 68 overlaps the pointed end 56 andthe notches 64 of t e plate 66 to hold the. presser foot in engagement with the 4bracket 40. In the illustrated arrangement, the punching position is illustrated by the dotted lines 70 (Fig. 2) and the line of feed extends vertically of the sheet of drawings through this position, as indicated by the arrow. I't will he seen, therefore, that the presser foot mechanism provided is reversible quickly and certainly so that it will occupy two positions, in one of which a toe will contact with the Work .to the left of the line of feed and in the other of which a toe'will Contact with the Work to the right of the line of feed, as indicated in Figs.r 9 and l() respectively.

The illustrated work-positioning mechanism comprises a reversible edgegage which may be quickly and accurately positioned upon opposite sides of the line of feed and exactly at equal distances away from the line of feed. This gage comprises a gage member 72, the opposite ends of which are rounded and suitable for engagement with the edge of a piece of work. As illustrated the age .member 72 is an integral part of a bar 4 having a vertical fiange 76 and adjustably mounted in a groove in a slide 78. The gage member may be'moved by means of this adjustment toward and away from the punchingposition and held in adjusted position by means of a screw 80. This krallows the gage to be brought as close as is desired to the particular punch. Preferably the machine is provided with a lever (not shown) by means of which the punch may be moved away from the operator out of the punchingposition when it is desired to transfer the gage 72 from one sition to the other. Preferably, too, a ho d-down bar 82 isadjustably associated with the gage and supported thereon by means of a bracket -84 in overlying relation to the edges of the piece of work which is being guided by the opposite rounded ends of the gage member 72. This hold-down bar performs the wellknown function of preventing the curling of the edges of the piece of work as it is guided through the machine. p In order to make the hold-down bar effective for varyling thicknesses of leather, an adjusting screw 86 has a reduced neck which is rotatably secured in a slotted end of the bracket 84 (Figs. 3 and 6) and the screw 86 is threaded into the hold-down bar 82 so that the hold-down bar may be raised or lowered with respect to the gage member upon which the bracket 84 is mounted. It will vbe seen that the gage member 72 and the flange 76 rigidly position the hold-down bar against twisting. f

To supplement the mechanism thus far of the table and the table is slotted at 90l (Fig. 2) to allow the passage of a depending pin 92 secured to the slide 78. A hand lever 94 is pivotally mounted beneath the table upon a headed stud- 96 and is providedwith a ,slot 98 (Figs. 2 and 7) engagingpin 92. This lever 94 has a finger piece 100'extending beyond the edge of the table, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, so that it may be easily moved by the operator to cha-nge the slide 78 from one position to another. l To define the two positions of the slide 78 and hence mak of the edge gage 72. I have provided an arc-r uate slot 102 in the hand lever 94, the edges of which are beveled downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Fig. 7,*for engagement with the upper pointed end of arod 104 slidably supported nfor vertical adjustment in a bracket 106 secured to the under side of the work table 14. yThis arrangement of t he parts allows the lmovement of the edge. ygage to two alternative positions vin eachof which its work-engaging surface is exactly the same distance from the punching position and hence from the line of feed.l By adjusting the rod y104 vertically, these positions may be varied but will always be equally spaced from the line of feed. To effect such an adjustment the rod 104 is provided with an inclined face 108 which is engaged by the conical end of a horizontal screw 110 threaded in the bracket 106.`

` In using the above-described machine in accordance with the novel method ot' this invention to perforatework such as the pointed shoe tip illustratedin Figs. 9 and l0, the presser footand the edge gage will be relatively positioned with the edge gage at one sidey of the line of feed. for example at the right of the line of feed, and with the presser foot contacting with the Work on the other side of the line of feed. as indicated in Figs. 1, 4 and 9. In the first part of the operation. the perfor-'ations beginningT at the peak ofthe tip or at a predetermined distance therefrom, as indicated by the letter A, willrprocced-from this reference point along one side of the tip. for example. to the point B after which the work will be remay be brought slowly down almost intov contact with the work, or elsethe Work supportmay be raised to secure a like result,

after which the machine may be started, in 4order to perforate the other side of the Work as indicated by the line A-(l- The body of thepiece of work will be at one side of the line of feed during one part of the operai tion and 'at the other side of the line of feed during the other part of the operation.

Having described myr invention, what I "claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. In a machineof the character described, means for opera-ting upon a piece of Awork` and feeding it along a line, a presser foot for holding the work, said presser foot being constructed and arranged so that it may be shifted into a position to contactr with the work ait` either side of the line of feed, a Vgage member having opposed edges suitable foricontact with the work to guide the same, and `means for moving said gage member linto corresponding positions upon oppositev sides of the line of feed.

2. In a perforating machine, means for perforating a piece of work and feeding it step by step along a line, a presser foot for holding the work `intermediate' between the feeding steps, means for supporting said presser foot constructed and arranged to allow it to be shifted to contact with the Work on either side of the line of feed, an edge gage having opposed work-contacting surfaces.- and means for shifting said gage into positions on opposite sides of the line of feed equally spaced therefrom so that work guided by the opposite edges will receive perforations equally spaced from the edge of the work whether guided by one or the other face of the gage.

3. In a perforating machine, means for punching a piece of work and feeding it step by step along a line, a presser foot for holding the work intermediate of the feeding operations. said presser foot being provided with a pair of feet, means for supporting the presser foot arranged so that either of the feet may be brought into operative relation with the work but upon opposite sides of the line of feed, a two-faced edge gage. means for moving said gage into'either of two operative positions so that the perforations will be equally spaced' from .the edge of the work regardless of which position the edge gage occupies, and means for adjusting said positions. i

4. In a machine of thel character described, mechanism for retaining a piece of work in position comprising a presser foot bar, a presser foot movably supported on said bar, and means comprising notches and a spring for retaining said presser foot in any one of a plurality of work-retaining positions on the bar` each having a predetermined relation to the line of feed.

5. In a machine of the character described employing mechanism for feeding a piece of work along a line, said mechanism including means for holdingthe work comprising a presser foot bar, a presser foot movably mounted on said bar, and means for retaining said presser foot in either of two positions constructed and arranged to cause the presser foot to be applied to the work upon opposite sides of the line of feed.

6, In a machine of the character described embodying feeding mechanism, holding mechanism for retaining a piece of work in position intermediate of the feeding operations comprising a reciprocating presser foot bar, a presser foot movably mounted onsaid har provided with a pair of toes, and means for retaining said `presser foot with either toe in operative relation to the work.

7. In a machine of the character described embodying feeding mechanism to move a piece of work along a line step by step, mechanism for intermittently holding the work between the feeding operations comprising a support, a presser foot having a pair of toes movably mounted on said support, and means for retaining said presser 'foot in either one of two positions upon the support so that a corresponding toe may upon either one side or the other of the line of feed.

8. In a machine of the character described embodying mechanism for feeding apiece of Worlgalong a. line, means for holding the work in position intermediate of the feeding oper-ations comprising a support, a presser foot with tivo r\\'orlt-contacting toes pivotally and slidably mounted onsaid support, said support being providedwith notches to re-l ceive a part of the presser foot member, said notches being arranged to hold the presser foot in opposed kpositions sothat either one toe or the other is in engagement with the work. and resilient means urging said presser foot member into engagement with a notch,

9. .ln a machine of the character.' described embodying mechanism for feeding a piece.

.gf-aging surfacesaltcrnately into operative relation to the. Work at equal distances from the line of feed, and a member mounted on the gagging device and arranged to overhang and hold down the edge of the work adjacent to the gage.. said member being adjustably supported on the gaging device to coactv with varying thicknesses of Work.

l1. ln a machine of the character described embodying mechanism for feeding a iece of worlr along a line, a gaging device liaving opposed work-engaging surfaces, a slide supporting said gaging device for movementto bring either of the Work-engaging surfaces into operative relation upon opposite sides of the line of feed, and means for moving said slidable support.

i2. ln machine of the character de-` scribed embodying mechanism for feeding a. piece of work along a line, a gaging device having opposed work-engaging surfaces, a slide supporting saidgaging device -for movement to bring either of the Work-engaging surfaces into operative relation upon opposite sides of the line of feed, means for moving said slidable support, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of the slide.

i3. In a machine of the character Adescribed embodying .mechanism for feeding a piece of worlc along a line, a gaging device aving opposed work-engaging surfaces, a sii supporting said gaging device for movement to bring either of the Work-engaging surfaces into operative relation upon opposite sides ofthe line of feed, means for moving said slidable support, and a single -means enacting with a -movable part constructed and arranged adjustably to. limit the nioyenient Qi" the slidingsupport so that the opposed engaging surfaces Will be brought into positions equally spaced from the line of feed.v 5

14. In a machine ofthe character described embodying means for feeding a piece of work along a fline, a work-supporting table, a slide. on said table movable in a direction perpendicular to the line of feed, la tvvo-edged'gage mounted on said slide, a lever for moving the slide to bring one edge or the other olf/thc gage into operative relation` to and upon opposite ksides of the line of feed," and adjustable means for limitingv the movements of the lever so that the opposed edges of't-he gage will be brought into positions equally spaced from the line of` feed. i

15. In a machine of the character described cmbodying means for feeding a piece of Work along a line, a work-supporting table, a slide on said table movable in a direction perpendicular tothe line of feed, a two-edged gage mounted on`said slide, a lever for moving the slide to bring oneedge or theiother of the gage into operative relation to and upon opposite sidesfof the line of feed, and a single means adjustably mounted on the table and varranged to cooperate with said lever to limit its movementy so that the opposing edges of' the gage may 100 be brought into positions equally spaced from the line of feed.

16. In a machine of the character described, a working tool, means for feeding a piece of Work along a line, a Work-support- 106 y mg table,a slide on said table movable in a direction angularly related to the line of feed, a gage on said slide, and means for adjusting said gage with respect to the slide toward and away from the Working tool.

17. vIn a machine of the character described, a'working tool, means for feeding a piece of work' along a line, a Work-supporting table, a slide on said table movable in a direction angularly related to the line of feed, a two-edged gage on said slide, aholddown mounted on said gage arranged -to overlie the edges of the gage, and means for adjusting saidhlold-doivn to co-operate with t varying thicknesses of work.

18. .In 'a machine of the character described, a working tool, means for feeding a piece of Work-'along a line, a work-supporting table, a slide on said table movably mounted in/a direction angularly related to l?!s the line of feed a two-edged gage carried by said slide, a lever pivotally mounted upon the table having a slot, and a. pointed member co-operating with said slot to limit movements of the lever equally to space the opl posed edges of the work gage from the line of feed.

In a machine of the character described, a working tool, means for feed: a piece of work along a line, a work porting table, a slide on said table mounted for movement in a direction angularly re-l lated to the? line of feed, a two-edged gage carried byE said slide, a lever pivotally mounted upon theV table having a slot, a pointed member co-operating with saidslot to limit movementsv of the lever equally to space the opposed edges of the work gage from the line of feed, and means to adjust the pointed member to vary the distances of the edges of the gage from the line of feed.

20.V In a machine of the character de scribed, means to feed a piece of work along- 'related intersecting rows of perforaticns comprising recurrent units which consists 1n starting with the first unit at or near the de sired point of intersection of Athe rows, pro ducing thefirst row while moving 'the work to perforat. progressively away Yfrom thc point of intersection, and then starting again at the sameicorner'with arperforation in a predetermined relation to Ysaid point and moving the work to perforate progressively away from Vthe point to produce a second row of perforations in angular relation to the first row. l' o 22. The method of producing angularly related intersecting rowsfo'll perforations comprising recurrent units *which consists in starting with the first unit in a predetermined relation to the desired point of intersection, producing the first row while moving the work to perforate progressively away from the point of'intersection, and then startingY again at the same point with a perforation in the same predetermined relation to the point of intersection as was the `first perforation of the yfirst row and moving the work to perforate progressively away fronrthe point to produce a second row Yof perferationsin angular relation to the first row. Y'

23. The method `of producing angularly related intersecting rows of perforations upon a pointed vamp which eonsists'in starting the perferating operation with the punch located in a definite relation to the point of intersection, perforating the vamp to produce one row, then again starting the operation at the point of intersection with the punch in a position to register with the first hole of the first row, and moving the work away from said point to produce a second angularly related row of perforations. Thefmethod of producing angularly related rows of perforations along adjoining edges of a; piece of work, which consists in starting the operation with a perforation located ina definite relation to the corner between the adjoining edges, perforating along one side while holding the work against a Ygage positioned for engagement with the adjacent edge, and then starting again at'the same corner and perforating along the other side whi'le holding the work against an edge gage positioned for engage` nient with the edge adjacent to the lastmcntioned side.

The method of perforating a pointed oe :tip which consists starting the perfor-mating Yoperation witlr the punch located in a definite relation to the pointof the tip, perfor-ating the work along one side ofthe point while guiding the work by Ymeans of a gag@ positioned in engagement with the ad'- jaccnt edge, reversing the work, placing it in a position to start the punching operation at Ythe same point `with one tool of .the punch in a position to register with a hole previously made, and perforating the work along the other edge of the tip while guiding thegwork by means of an edge gage positioned for Yengagement with the edge adjacent to the last-mentioned row of perforations.

26. r1`he method of producing two rows of perforatioris'along adjacent edges of and meeting atf the corner ofY a piece of work in such a fashion Ythat at least one perforation is common togbot-h rows which consists in con'inicncing at the corner and making one row of perforatioiis by means of recurrent units while guiding the work by means of an edge gage positioned ingcontact with the adjacent edge of the work, removing the work from'the machine, reversing the edge gage, rep'la'cing the work in the machine ready to start perforating'at the same corner, producing another row ofperforaftions at an angle to the first-mentioned row' by means of recurrent units, and guiding the work for thisrow of perforations by bringing the adjacent edge of the work into Contact with the reversed edge gage.

IrLV testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification.

FRANK BYcRoFT KEALI... 

